Rail Worker Strike Threat Lingers

In September, ILTA weighed in with the White House to express ILTA's members' concerns about a nationwide freight rail strike. As ILTA members know, a freight rail strike was looming in early September. Given the ILTA membership's reliance on freight rail to move customers' products and to ensure deliveries, the pending nationwide strike by rail workers.

ILTA went directly to the White House's National Economic Council to express concerns about the impact of the rail strike on our industry. ILTA clarified to the White House that greater issues with the freight rail industry needed attention. ILTA will follow up on its letter with the White House. Additionally, with respect to poor freight rail service, ILTA continues to press for greater transparency and increased levels of service.

The Biden Administration, industry, and the unions worked diligently to avert a strike in September. The 12 rail worker unions continued negotiating a new contract agreement with the rail carriers to address worker concerns for additional. However, one of the unions, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, rejected the proposal due to the employees' inadequate amount of paid sick days. Due to the approval rules for the other unions, the next event horizon of a potential strike is mid-November. ILTA will continue monitoring and advocating for the Biden Administration to resolve this issue, so freight rail service continues to operate.